Superbly recorded by the BBC, this is a rich and
varied selection of choral works by British composer Edward Cowie. By
far the largest in scale for this programme, the Gesangbuch was
the first of a long and fruitful collaboration between Cowie and the
BBC Singers. Eloquent and virtuoso vocal writing is joined by colourful
instrumentation - a rewarding challenge for performers and audience
alike.

The Gesangbuch is divided into four movements, with the four
seasons as a basis for each. This is an atonal world, but with beautifully
atmospheric passages and never a dull moment. The music is angular and
intellectually stimulating as well as descriptive, inhabiting that 1970s
avant-garde scene which steered clear of obvious tonality. At the same
time it suggests elements of close-harmony, a diversity of musical periods
including Baroque associations via harpsichord, and a musical journey.
This concatenation resolves through remarkable textures of vocally expressed
natural sounds into a tonally ‘rapturous benediction’.

The smaller scale works on this CD are no less fascinating, the Bell
Bird Motet weaving a musical spell around an Australian dawn chorus
scene complete with frogs. This is a companion work to the Lyre Bird
Motet, which sets an evocative evening vista using major and minor
tonalities through which avian characters emerge and interact. My favourite
work on the disc is The Soft Complaining Flute, which quite magically
introduces the baroque flute arabesques of Stephen Preston over coolly
limpid vocal lines and cluster-like chords. It’s a combination
which develops into an equal but contrasting dialogue and gives way
to a remarkable solo flute cadenza full of skilful glissandi.

It is a shame that the sung texts are not given in the booklet, but
this is the only minus point in a stunning collection of fascinating
contemporary choral repertoire.